Under the "Burial in Woollen Acts" of 1678 & 1680, which were intended to protect the wool industry, people had to be buried in woollen shrouds or else pay a fine. An affadavit was sworn that a woollen shroud had been used. Boston parish kept records of these next to the burial entries.[These Acts were not repealed until 1813, but by then records of affadavits were rarely kept.]